About the Animal Husbandry Internship: 

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, dba Children's Science Center, conducts internship and youth leadership programs for high school and college students to learn professional skills and to embed these skills in their everyday behavior. The Animal Husbandry Internship will provide a well-rounded experience for individuals actively pursuing a career in animal care and education. The internship will cover topics including best practices in animal welfare, zoonotic diseases, training, AZA/SSP information, USDA requirements, recording keeping, etc.

The Children’s Science Center Lab, is seeking an adaptable, creative, articulate, dynamic and highly motivated individual to join our team in the role of Animal Husbandry Intern. The Animal Husbandry Intern must be a dedicated individual who can maintain aesthetically pleasing terrestrial habitats that promote positive animal welfare for a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. The intern must be able to work independently as well as on a team to provide essential and effective care for the collection as a whole. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Operations and Program Coordinator.

Intern Responsibilities:  

• Attend to assigned animals; prepare diets, feed, and provide water; sanitize enclosure furniture/floors and food/water dishes as scheduled or necessary; perform approved enrichment and training activities; assist in the capture and restraint of animals;
• Record relevant information in facility’s recordkeeping database, including animal observations, health concerns and treatments, acquisitions/births, dispositions/deaths, etc.; objectively complete animal welfare assessments, as assigned;
• Perform routine repairs and maintenance on exhibits/enclosures as needed; construct improvements, furnishings, and decorations for exhibits;
• Assist in planning and conducting educational and interactive guest programs; engage the public to encourage curiosity and facilitate a positive experience both in person and virtually;
• Support the institution’s Mission, Vision, and Value statements; maintain a positive example in meeting the needs of fellow staff, volunteers, and guests.

Qualifications:

The intern must:

• Be 18 years or older;
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation to/from work;
• Be able to lift 50 pounds;
• Be able to stand for an extended period;
• Successfully complete a criminal background check upon selection.

The ideal intern candidate will:

• Pursue or in is in the process of pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Environmental Sciences or similar;
• Demonstrate interest in Zoology and animal care;
• Have basic computer skills;
• Possess a “can do” attitude with a “will do” work ethic.

Physical Demands of the Internship:

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this internship. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions

Frequently required to:

• Speak and hear;
• Stand upright and/or walk on feet for up to five (5) hours at a time;
• Sit for up to five (5) hours at a time;
• Reach with arms and hands, including to raise arms overhead to move and lift up to thirty-five (35) pounds from a shelf;
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl;
• Move or lift at least fifty (50) pounds from the ground;
• Use hands and digits to manipulate, handle, and feel.
• Vision abilities required by this internship include close vision (close vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Occasionally required to:

• Smell;
• Perform repetitive motions;
• Use eye, hand, and foot coordination. 
  
  

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this internship, interns may be required to use chemicals with Material Safety Data Sheets provided. Interns may be required to utilize light tools and equipment to perform duties. The noise level in the internship environment is typically moderate to loud. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the internship.

 

By submitting your application, you are verifying you understand and meet the above requirements and qualifications. 

 

Internship Outline:

The Animal Husbandry Internship is a 12-week internship program that takes place at the Children's Science Center Lab, located at the Fair Oaks Mall, 11948L Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA, 22033. 

The intern will be required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. Interns will work with the Animal Husbandry Coordinator to develop a schedule, but hours must be completed within the timeframes below:

Weekdays: 9 am-5 pm
Weekends: 11 am-3 pm

Interview:

Selected applicants will be invited for an in-person interview at the Children's Science Center Lab. The timing

Mandatory Orientation:

The Animal Husbandry Intern must attend an in-person orientation session at the lab. The selected candidate will be contacted to schedule an orientation at their convenience before the start of the internship program.

Stipend:

This internship is unpaid. Contact hours can be used to meet volunteer hour requirements for school and/or extracurricular involvement. 

To Apply:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be considered for the upcoming internship cycle. The internship cycles are typically:

• January - March
• April - June
• July - September
• October - December

However, these cycles can be adjusted based on the needs of the Animal Husbandry team. 

Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the internship cycle. Applications submitted within 2 weeks will be considered for the following internship cycle. The internship start date and end date vary and will be determined by the selected applicant. 

Before you begin your application, please have the following items ready:

• Resume
• Cover Letter 

Need help writing your resume and cover letter? Check out our tips here.

You will not be able to submit an application without uploading a Resume and Cover Letter. Resume and Cover Letter must be submitted as pdf files. 

The following questions are used for collection purposes only. They will not be used in the decision making process.